History

Women’sNet was launched in March 1998, as a joint initiative of South African Non-Governmental Organisation Network (SANGONeT) and the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE). This collaboration was born out of a desire to develop a network that would facilitate the promotion of gender equality in South Africa by using new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The launch was the result of work done in 1997, where women from NGOs, statutory bodies, and academia came together to set out their vision for Women'sNet as an organisation. Says Jennifer Radloff, who was there: "It was a powerful, interactive and valuable opportunity for women and gender activists at that time in our herstory as South Africans, as activists and as women aware of the need to harness ICTs.

Women’sNet was officially launched in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. The Durban launch took place at the Commission for Gender Equality and South African Department of Justice Conference on the Prevention of Violence Against Women in the SADC region. In Cape Town, Women’sNet was launched in Parliament at a high profile lunch hosted by the Parliamentary Women’s Group. The Johannesburg launch took place in the SANGONeT offices and was attended by more that 40 women from NGOs and government agencies throughout Gauteng. Approximately 300 people together attended all three launches.

From 1998 until October 2002, Women’sNet operated as a project of SANGONeT, and was located within and operated as part SANGONeT. In light of restructuring plans with in SANGONeT, Women’sNet was granted approval by the SANGONeT Board to set itself up as an independent organisation. Women’sNet moved offices in November 2002, and became formally registered as a Section 21 company (a not-for profit organisation, in terms of South African company law) in January 2003.